Master Busy Season: Outsmart Audit Deadlines with Offshore Support

Created By : Mansi Khanduja

Why Do Deadlines Feel Impossible to Meet?

The workload on auditors increases significantly during busy season with financial reporting requirements, regulatory deadlines, and year-end closes all colliding at once. Firms often find themselves juggling an influx of client demands, tight deadlines timelines, and mounting pressure — all of which lead to increased risks of burnout, errors, and reduced audit quality. Auditors are overwhelmed by a tidal wave of stress, struggling to stay afloat.

But what if you could work smarter, not harder?

Managing workload efficiently is of utmost importance and can be achieved via proactive client scheduling, clear communication among stakeholders about expectations and timelines, dynamic resources allocation, and utilising audit software and data analytics tools to automate processes.

Another important yet often underutilized strategy for firms seeking solutions to manage their audits is leveraging external audit support services, i.e., outsourcing their audit tasks to alleviate some internal pressure and overcome staff shortages. Outsourcing plays a pivotal role in handling workloads during peak seasons. With an experienced and trained workforce skilled in US GAAP audits and proficient in audit tools like CaseWare, Idea, AuditMiner, Data Snipper, etc., these professionals also provide specialization across a diverse range of industries including NFPs, EBPs, Single Audits and other commercial audits.

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7 Offshore Strategies to Break Audit Bottlenecks

Are you ready to rethink your audit process? Here’s how AKM Global’s proven offshore support model can support in your busy season management:

1. Delays in receiving PBC Items – Tame the PBC Chaos

Problem: Resistance from client, incomplete data, or late submissions from client

Solution: Let offshore teams take full ownership of PBC coordination

• Maintaining PBC trackers and requesting information well in advance
• Use of PBC portals like Suralink for proper management of documents received.
• Setting up deadlines for receiving each PBC item and regular follow up with client contacts regarding status of document submission.
• Schedule working sessions for complex data requests explaining relevance of certain information.
• Pre-validate the data received to avoid last-minute surprises.

Impact: Enables quicker fieldwork readiness, freeing firms from chasing documentation – leading to a smoother audit process.

2. Time Zone Differences - Beat the Clock with Time Zone Advantages

Problem: Delays in deliverables due to the time gap between the U.S. and offshore teams can be particularly problematic during busy seasons when turnaround time is already limited.

Solution: India team to operate in such a way that there is an overlap of some working hours, enabling:

• Time for check-in calls to discuss work progress or any hurdles.
• “Follow-the-sun" model speeds up task completion – both teams can work round the clock.

Impact: Continuous progress across time zones by both the teams.

3. Build Ownership – Not Just Task Completion

Problem: Offshore teams are often seen as mere preparers rather than full contributors to the audit.

Solution: Engage offshore seniors or in-charges to:

• Take ownership of audit sections rather than working on singular tasks on need basis
• Perform internal quality checks and prepare first-level review notes for onshore and offshore staff – freeing up onshore manager’s time.
• Direct clients contact for low-risk areas.

Impact: Builds confidence among the team members and instils accountability, helping supervisors and managers to worry less about the quality of the deliverables as preliminary review is already being done.

4. Standardization – Documenting SOPs Help

Problem: Inconsistency in workpapers across teams could leads to errors, rework, and onboarding challenges.

Solution: Have offshore teams maintain certain standards across the entire process including:

• SOPs for common work types
• Centralized checklists and templates
• Review-ready documentation standards.

Impact: Improves consistency and quality across teams; onboarding new people on the project becomes easier as they can get started faster with ready-to-use tools.

5. Lack of Centralized Project Tracking – Keep a Check on Your Radar

Problem: Audit progress is not always tracked in real-time, leading to deadline misses and incomplete tasks.

Solution: Set up real-time engagement trackers for both the onshore and offshore teams to:

• Track progress across all engagements.
• Monitor upcoming deadlines.
• Flag delays and escalate bottlenecks early.
• Coordinate resource allocation across teams.
• Impact: Enhances visibility, reduces missed notes or open items, and ensures smooth sailing of the audit process across teams.

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6. Continuous Learning – Create a Knowledge-Sharing Culture

Problem: Recurring mistakes on multiple engagements across seasons often lead to missed opportunities for improvement.

Solution: Implement a feedback mechanism wherein feedback is shared after completing each engagement – regular monthly / quarterly meet ups to align expectations regarding communication, quality, culture, and prospects:

• Include onshore reams in strategy planning meetings to give them an understanding of the clients.
• Conduct post-audit/sign off debriefs on assessing project outcomes.
• Create a 360-degree framework: feedback should flow both ways (including upward feedback).
• Establish a coaching program.
• Maintain learnings logs for tracking progress.
• Dedicate time for trainings and workshops to upgrade skills.

Impact: Promotes continuous growth, enhancing overall team accuracy and efficiency with each audit season.

7. Offshore Resource Optimization – Every Hand Counts When You Need It the Most

Problem: Staff often sit idle while waiting for reviews or new assignments.

Solution: Apply a flexible bench utilization model:

• Use partially free staff for QC checks, tie-outs, and confirmation follow-ups.
• Maintain a floating bench for high priority weeks.

Impact: Maximizes resource efficiency and ensures full team utilization—even when the workflows fluctuate.

Imagine an Audit Season That’s Calm, Controlled, and Successful.

AKM Global can make it happen.

With the right structure and collaborative audit model, AKM Global’s 44+ years of outsourcing expertise can relieve you of your work pressure – resulting in improved turnaround time and increased overall audit quality. We work as a true extension of your team — so thar you can focus on delivering exceptional client service without sacrificing your mental peace.

Contact us today to explore our customised audit outsourcing solutions, tailored to meet your specific needs.